Adjustable display rack



May 28,1968 JARDANTWO HAL 3,335,453

- ADJUSTABLE DIS-PLAY RACK Filed March 28, 1966 I a Sheets-Sheet 2 3 viz... INVENTORS ANGELO FDANTINOA 7 36 KARL J. MART/NER 35' 26 ATTORNEYS.

May 28, 1968 A. F. DANTINO ET AL 3,385,453

I ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY RACK Filed March 28, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ANGELO F. DA/VTl/VO &KARL J. MART/NEE BY .@Z.@ M? @am/ ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 01 Bee 3,385,453 ADJUSTABLE DXSPLAY RACK Angelo F. Dantino and Karl J. Martiner, (Iheektowaga, N.Y., assignors to T. A. Buscaglia Equipment Co., Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 543,763

12 Claims. (Cl. 211-175)" ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The adjustable display rack has a first shelf section pivotally connected to the back of a frame. A second shelf section is connected to the first for telescoping and pivoting relative thereto. The first and second shelf sections are mutually supporting to provide a substantially continuous shelf portion when the sections are telescoped. A third shelf section is pivotally connected to the second and is supported at its forward end on the base. A support depends from one of the second and third shelf sections and is adapted to engage spaced slots on the base for maintaining the shelf sections in different positions. The rack is adapted to lit a display case.

The present invention relates generally to a display rack for foodstuifs and the like. More specifically, this invention relates to a new and useful display rack which is adjustable to accommodate different quantities of foodstuffs on display while providing the appearance of a full display at all times.

In merchandising produce and the like it has been found that a display case filled to overflowing adds greatly to the appearance and customer-attracting qualities of the display, as contrasted with a shallow, scant display arrangement. On a busy day, this presents no problem. The display case can be filled to capacity without fear of spoilage because turnover is rapid. However, on a relatively slow day when turnover is light produce at the bottom of the display case is very apt to spoil. Therefore, on low volume days it has been the practice to display a smaller quantity of merchandise, and to build up the display with temporary structures composed of boxes, pans or whatever else may be handy. Building up and tearing down such structures is laborious and time consuming. Stepped trays and the like are available, but they are relatively fixed and inflexible.

Accordingly, an object of our invention is to provide a display case rack for foodstuffs and the like which is adjustable to compensate for the variation in rate of turnover between high volume days and low volume days.

Another object of our invention is to provide a display rack for foodstuffs and the like which is adjustable to a wide variety of positions, to accommodate a wide range in the volume or mass of foodstuffs on display.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an adjustable display rack which is adapted for use with existing display cases, without modification.

A further object of our invention is to provide a display rack which can be collapsed to permit volume filling of the display case on busy days and erected to provide the appearance of a full display with a small volume of foodstuffs on slow days.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a display rack for foodstuffs and the like which permits the free circulation of ventilating and cooling air therethrough.

The adjustable display rack of the present invention is adapted for use in any produce, frozen food, meat, dairy, delicatessen or other type of refrigerated or nonrefrigerated display case. The rack can be collapsed on Patented May 28, 1%68 busy market days to permit capacity filling of the case. On slow market days the rack. can be adjusted to different heights and configurations, to accommodate a lesser quantity of foodstuffs without detracting from the attractiveness of the display. Whether collapsed or elevated the rack permits free circulation of air beneath the foodstuffs which aids in the prevention of spoilage.

An adjustable display rack constructed in accord with our invention is characterized in one aspect thereof by the provision of a base, a shelf structure comprising an articulated shelf portion having two sections one of which is pivoted on the base, and a further shelf section having one end pivotally supported above the base and another end slidably engaging the articulated shelf portion, and a support depending from the articulated shelf portion and disposed to support the shelf structure in various posi tions relative to the base.

These and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of our invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a produce display case employing an adjustable display rack of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the display rack;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken about on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken about on line 44 of HS. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken about on lines 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing one form of shelf pivot;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing another form of shelf pivot;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the adjustable display rack in its fully collapsed position;

FIGS. 9-13 are views similar to FIG. 8 but showing different positions of adjustment of the display rack; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of the adjustable display rack in a fully raised, extended position.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows a standard display case lltl having a well portion 12 and a bin 14 disposed therein for holding foodstuffs and the like. The disposition of bin 14 in well 12 forms a ventilating air space 16 therebetween which permits free circulation of air beneath bin 1.4. In a refrigerated case the air circulating in air space 16 would be cooled. Such display case refrigerating and air circulating systems are well known and per se form no part of this invention. Therefore, they have been omitted from the drawings for ease of illustration. Any conventional system can be used.

An adjustable display rack of our invention, generally designated 20, is shown mounted in bin 14, from which it can be removed for cleaning or whenever desired. Rack 20 includes a frame 22 having a rectangular base 24 and an upstanding, generally inverted U-shaped back 26. Base 2 5 and back 26 can be formed of angle members, Welded or otherwise secured together at their ends. A three section shelf structure 28 is held in any of various positions by a swing support 30 depending from the shelf structure 28 for releasable engagement with base 24. Preferably, the shelf structure 28 is constructed in a manner which permits a free circulation of air up through the shelf structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 the shelf structure 28 can be constructed of a grid of spaced parallel bars 32 Welded or otherwise secured in place on rectangular frames 33 having bisecting cross pieces 35, all of bar stock.

The shelf structure 28 includes a section 34 having its rearward end 36 pivoted to back 26 adjacent the top 38 thereof. FIG. 6 shows the rearward end 36 snap fitted in a hook-like pivot bracket 35, while FIG. 7 shows rearward end 36 fixed in a pivot bracket 37. Depending from opposite sides of shelf section 34 are brackets 44, each of which has an elongated slot 48 formed therein for purposes set forth below.

A shelf section 52 is provided adjacent its rearward end 54 with downwardly and outwardly projecting guide fingers 56 which project laterally outwardly through slots 48 in sliding engagement with brackets 44. A pair of upper pivot bearings 62 and a pair of lower pivot bearings 66 are welded to the forward end 60 of shelf section 52.

The rearward end 72 of a shelf section 70 is journaled in bearings 62. Shelf section 70 has its forward end 74 pivotally supported by the forward end 76 of frame base 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The sections 70 and 52 comprise an articulated shelf portion, and the sections 52 and 34 comprise an extensible shelf portion.

A central channel member 78 having a plurality of spaced slots 82 formed in the walls 80 thereof extends from the front member 76 of base 24 to back 26. Slots 82 are disposed to receive the lower end 84 of swing support 30 which latter comprises a rectangular frame of bar stock having a center cross piece 85. Support strut 30 has its upper end 86 journaled in lower pivot bearings 66.

Strut 30 coacts with slotted channel 78 to support the shelf structure 28 in various selected positions. FIG. 8 shows support 30 lying fiat on frame base 24. In this position shelf sections 52 and 70 also lie flat on base 24 and shelf section 34 is nearly vertical, to permit full capacity filling of bin 14. To reduce the capacity of bin 14, and provide the appearance of a full display with a lower volume of foodstuff, the shelf structure 28 is raised by inserting support strut 30 into any desired pair of slots 80. The shelf structure 28 is raised higher and higher as support 30 is moved in successive steps from back 26 toward forward end 76 of base 24, as indicated by FIGS. 9 and 11-14. The sliding relationship between shelf sections 34 and 52 permit these two sections to telescope between a fully contracted position (FIG. 11) and a fully extended position (FIGS. 1 and 14). In the extended position of FIG. 9, end 74 of section 70 bears forwardly against base member 76. In the extended position of FIG. 14, end 74 of section 70 engages hook 75, the sections 70, 52 and 34 being in tension.

Intermediate, partially telescoped positions are shown in FIGS. 3, 10, 12, and 13. In the intermediate and contracted positions of sections 34 and 52, the former bears downwardly on the latter, about fingers 56 as pivots, whereby they support each other to provide a substantially continuous and unbroken extensible shelf portion of the shelf structure 28.

It will be noted that, in addition to reducing the capacity of bin 14, the shelf structure 28 assumes different shapes in its different positions. As the capacity of bin 14 is reduced, a lesser quantity of foodstuffs is needed to provide a full display, and the merchandiser no longer need be hesitant about filling his display case 10 to capacity on relatively slow market days.

Thus it will be appreciated that our invention fully accomplishes the intended objects providing an adjustable display rack for foodstuffs, for use in display cases, which can be quickly and easily adjusted to alter the capacity of the display case and to adapt the rack to different types and volumes of foodstuffs.

The rack can be made of wood, metal or of any suitable material and construction. A manually adjustable rack is disclosed by way of illustration, but we also contemplate the utilization of electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated motor means for moving the shelf structure 28 into a wide variety of positions.

While we have described in detail but one embodiment, that has been done by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation.

Having fully disclosed and described our invention and its mode of operation, what we claim as new is:

1. An adjustable display rack for foodstuffs and the like comprising:

(a) a frame having a slotted base and an upstanding back;

(b) a shelf structure comprising an articulated shelf portion pivotally supported adjacent one end thereof on said frame in forwardly spaced relation to said back;

(0) a shelf section pivotally connected to said back adjacent the upper end thereof, said shelf section having a slidable connection with said articulated shelf portion adjacent the opposite end thereof; and

(d) a support depending from said articulated shelf portion and disposed for insertion into said slotted base to maintain said shelf structure spaced above said base.

2. An adjustable display rack for foodstuffs and the like comprising:

(a) in combination with means providing a base and a back;

(b) a shelf structure comprising a shelf section pivotally supported on said back above said base;

(c) an articulated shelf portion having a first section supported on said base and a second section slidably connected to the first mentioned shelf section; and

(d) a support depending from said articulated shelf portion for raising and supporting said shelf structure above said base.

3. An adjustable display rack for foodstuffs and the like comprising:

(a) a frame having a base and an upstanding back;

(b) a shelf section supported adjacent one end on said base;

(c) an extensible shelf portion having a first section pivoted to said back and a second section pivoted to the first mentioned shelf section adjacent the opposite end thereof; and

(d) a frame engaging support depending from one of said shelf sections for supporting said shelf sections above said base.

4. An adjustable display rack comprising:

(a) a frame having a base and a back;

(b) a first shelf section supported on said base;

(c) a second shelf section pivoted on said back above said base;

(d) bracket means carried by said second shelf section, said bracket means having elongated slot means therein;

(e) a third shelf section having one end pivotally connected to said first shelf section and a second end slidably engaging said slot means;

(f) a support depending from one of said first and third shelf sections for raising and supporting said shelf sections above said base.

5. A display rack as set forth in claim 4 in which said base is provided with a plurality of spaced slots adapted to receive said support wherein each of said slots is disposed for supporting said shelf sections a different distance above said base.

6. An adjustable display rack for foodstuffs and the like comp-rising:

(a) a base having a member with a plurality of spaced slots formed therein and a back, a shelf section pivoted on said back;

(-b) an articulated shelf portion having a first section supported on said base and a second section pivoted to said first section and slidably connected to said shelf section pivoted on said back;

(c) a swing support depending from said articulated shelf portion, said swing support having a free end disposed for insertion into said slots to raise and support said articulated shelf portion above said base.

7. A display rack as set forth in claim 6 in which said second section is an extensible member.

8. An adjustable display rack for foodstuffs and the like comprising, in combination with means providing a base and a back, a first shelf section pivotally connected to said back above said base, a second shelf section, means connecting said first and second shelf sections in slidable and rotational engagement, said connecting means being adapted to maintain said shelf sections in mutually supporting relation to provide a substantially continuous and unbroken shelf portion when said sections are in a telescoped position and to provide rotational engagement of said shelf sections when they are in an extended position, and support means for engaging said shelf sections and maintaining them in position.

9. An adjustable display rack for foodstuffs and the like as set forth in claim 8, together with a third shelf section pivotally connected to said second shelf section, and wherein said support means comprise a support depending from one of said second and third shelf sections, and support engaging means on said base for maintaining said shelf sections in different positions.

10. An adjustable display rack as set forth in claim 9, wherein said base and said back are part of a frame, said shelf sections being connected together for rotation about parallel axes and the end of said third shelf section remote from said second shelf section being supported on said base forwardly of said back, said support being pivotally connected to one of said second and third shelf sections adjacent the pivotal connection therebetween, and said support engaging means comprising a member on said base having a plurality of spaced slots for receiving said support.

11. A display rack as set forth in claim 8, together with a third shelf section pivotally connected to said second shelf section, said base and back being provided by a frame adapted to fit a display case, and in which said support means includes a swinging support depending from one of said shelf sections and adapted to engage said frame at set intervals to maintain said shelf sections at different elevations above said frame.

12. A display rack as set forth in claim 11 in which said shelf sections are constructed in a manner permitting a free circulation of air therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,890 3/1932 Kennedy 312118 2,099,935 11/1937 Kennedy 312118 2,241,696 5/1941 Bender 312-118 2,319,470 5/ 1943 Nobles 211-153 2,635,434 4/ 1953 Bently 312-351 XR 2,744,807 5/ 1956 Bently 312351 2,924,168 2/1960 Jamentz 211-153 XR LROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

